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Tour notes

Each departure date has it's own dedicated tour note, detailing all you need to know about that tour. Whether you've already booked, or weighing up your options, please choose carefully the relevant itinerary for you.

We have the following different versions of the Wine, Walks and Tapas in Spain tour available at present.

Excellent even though he had flu he did everything to help and care for us and make sure we were happy. Very nice relaxed genuine and friendly approach. Perhaps suggest asking you tour leaders to be vaccinated? 2nd time in 5 trips tour leader has passed on flu. Nearly 2 weeks since we caught it, both only just beginning to recover.

What Tips Would You Give To Someone Else Booking This Tour

Make the most of the time in Bilbao, and Barcelona especially. Book entrance to the Sagrada Familias in advance [and possibly Guell Park?]. Don't need hiking boots or swim gear as advised.

Do You Have Anything Else To Add

Not enough time in Bilbao or Barcelona in particular. Poor transport arrangements to Heathrow-Bilbao and from Barcelona-Gatwick. We wanted to go by ferry but could not access ship as foot passengers on Portsmouth to Bilbao ferry ahead of tour booking. Perhaps tour add on?? These poor arrangements could put us off travelling with you again from Argyll. An occasional pool visit in the late afternoon would have been nice. Though advised to bring swimwear it was not needed.

4Pauline Hoggan,
03/12/14

What was the highlight or most memorable moment of your tour?

Hard to choose, but the meal and atmosphere at the Galician Social Club in Logrono was great, as was the day in the Priorat area, with the drive up into the mountains.

Helpful at all times, and went out of his way to arrange 'extra' experiences such as the Galician meal, and persuading the staff at the Gehry hotel to let us go in for a coffee.

What Tips Would You Give To Someone Else Booking This Tour

I arranged my own travel at short notice but went on the flight a number of the group were on - this got in late at night so I would suggest anyone arranging their own travel to try for a flight earlier in the day so you can see a bit of Bilbao when you arrive and settle in.

Do You Have Anything Else To Add

This group walked at a fast pace and it was hot - it was good that there were alternatives, such as not doing the whole of a planned walk but I did think I could have managed all the walks if they had not been so fast. Just worth bearing in mind as the client group for this Explore trip is varied in age and fitness. Would be good to have more holidays of this type.

5Olivia Lewis,
04/11/14

What was the highlight or most memorable moment of your tour?

The highlights for me were experiencing such variations between each winery, town and city. It was great to begin to understand the passion that the Spanish have for food and wine throughout Northern Spain. The views over the reservoir, vineyards and mountains when we walked up to the village of Siurana were amazing. All topped off with sampling and learning about different wines, olive oil production and local cuisine, a very knowledgeable tour leader and a great bunch of people to share the experience with!

Tony was brilliant - he had so much knowledge of Spain having lived there for many years. He kept all of the group informed at all times and answered any questions that we had. Tony was friendly, approachable and had a great sense of humour.

What Tips Would You Give To Someone Else Booking This Tour

Enjoy it! Don't be put off by the word 'walking'. The walks are fabulous - they are easy and you get to see some beautiful landscapes along the way, plus they balance out the over-indulgence of the delicious food and wine! Pack your comfortable shoes, hat, sun cream and a waterproof!

Do You Have Anything Else To Add

This is a lovely tour exploring the towns and cities of Northern Spain and incorporating easy walks through pretty countryside. We sampled a lot of local cuisine and tried out many different tapas bars along the way. We visited five different wineries with each one varying hugely in terms of produce, architecture and size. We also had time to visit monastaries, cathedrals and museums in the various places en-route.

5,
15/08/13

Name

David Clark

What Was The Highlight Or Most Memorable Moment Of Your Tour

The visit to Codorniu Cava winery followed by Montserrat

How Was Your Explore Tour Leader

Excellent - very helpful, friendly and knowledgeable. She really knitted the group together and made sure we all had a wonderful time.

Do You Have Anything Else To Add

This tour is so well thought out that I'm sure it will become one of the most popular.

4,
15/08/13

Name

Adele

What Was The Highlight Or Most Memorable Moment Of Your Tour

The wonderful group and that it felt like leaving family at the end. Great walks and wine tastings.

How Was Your Explore Tour Leader

The tour leader was extremely knowledgeable and fun. Also very caring as I had a health issue that she had to deal with.

What Tips Would You Give To Someone Else Booking This Tour

Enjoy!

Do You Have Anything Else To Add

My comment would be that wine tastings should be later in the day. It is not so easy to do a walk after wine tasting or lunch where you have consumed more wine. The time at the wine museum could do with being shorter but others enjoyed it.

5,
15/08/13

Name

Anne

What Was The Highlight Or Most Memorable Moment Of Your Tour

Sitting in the tasting room at the Ontañon winery with 3 lovely wines in front of me and a couple of bites to eat following a lovely riverside walk in the beautiful sunshine with storks flying overhead. Perfect.

How Was Your Explore Tour Leader

He was very good. He gave us a lot of really good information, was very attentive to everyone and has a great sense of humour. He contributed to making the holiday very enjoyable.

What Tips Would You Give To Someone Else Booking This Tour

Leave room in your case to take a couple of bottles home ;)

Do You Have Anything Else To Add

I really enjoyed the balance on this tour - a bit of walking, combined with museum visits, general sightseeing stuff and of course drinking lots of wines and eating lots of tapas. I would like to see more tours of this format. My knees can't manage a lot of walking so a full on walking tour is out sadly but I do enjoy a bit of walking on holiday to balance out the overindulgence elsewhere :)

5,
15/08/13

Name

Trevor

What Was The Highlight Or Most Memorable Moment Of Your Tour

This trip more than lived up to its name. The tapas evenings in Bilbao and Logrono walking through the cultural heritage were a delight to all the senses.The wines of La Rioja and Catalonia drunk in the warm spring sunshine and our walking through stunning scenery around Mont Blanc and Montserrat are experiences to be enjoyed over and over.

Tour Leader Name

Eaida

How Was Your Explore Tour Leader

Eaida our guide and the very spirit of Catalonia was knowledgble, organised and completely focussed on ensuring that our small group derived the very best experience of this magical part of Spain. We could not have wished for a better travelling companion.

What Tips Would You Give To Someone Else Booking This Tour

Expect the unexpected and relax. The walking is fine and spring is good for the Camino or the many delights of Barcelona. Travel light and enjoy.

Do You Have Anything Else To Add

In eight days I shot over 1200 images. The scenery, heritage, flora, fauna and the hectic life of Barcelona are an inexhaustible source of interest and surprise.

5,
15/08/13

Name

Peter

What Was The Highlight Or Most Memorable Moment Of Your Tour

It has to be the several walks we did through beautiful countryside to end up in a vineyard and a wine tasting. The wide variety of country - from Bilbao to Rioja to Aragorn to Catalonia and the wide variety of wines including Riojas and Cavas made it very memorable. It was the variety that was memorable as well as the experience and made you appreciate how the different regions of Spain are so different from each other.

Tour Leader Name

Zaida

How Was Your Explore Tour Leader

Zaida was a wonderful guide, knowledgeable and enthusiastic for her region and introduced us to some great places to visit, eat and drink in. She was thoughtful and helpful and made sure everyone had a good experience, slowing down if the walking got tough, but also rather than just drop us in the various spots she came with us to the various tapas bars and cathedrals etc we visited. Much recommended.

What Tips Would You Give To Someone Else Booking This Tour

Be prepared for all weathers, it rained in Bilbao and was very hot in Barcelona and all things in-between. Best if you can enjoy the different wines and foods and relax into the spanish style. Nothing strenuous as far as walking was concerned, some inevitably long coach rides.

4.5,
15/08/13

Name

Mark

Tour Name

Wine, Walks and Tapas

Tour Code

CWW

What Was The Highlight Or Most Memorable Moment Of Your Tour

From day 1 we were informed that the wine came first (before the walks)in the title of the tour. I counted that we tasted 24 wines (officially). I live in Spain and was fascinated by the way wine production is taken so seriously from the small vineyard to the huge cava producers (there were 100 million bottles in the cellar). Also learnt loads about the cultures in the different areas we visited.

Tour Leader Name

Zaida

How Was Your Explore Tour Leader

Tour leader was very knowledgable about all aspects of the tour and made the tour really good fun.

What Tips Would You Give To Someone Else Booking This Tour

Don't be put off by the walking part - there is always a plan B (B for bar!). If you've never been to Northern Spain would highly recommend you try it as it is very different from the rest of Spain. Very green - so check the weather forecast before you go and then ignore it and take clothes for all seasons!